Flight assembly for composter elevating device

ABSTRACT

A flight assembly for attachment to an elevating device carried at the forward end of a composter vehicle. The flight assembly includes an elongated channel member that is U-shaped in cross section and supports a plurality of equally spaced plate members located in parallel planes which are perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the channel member. Each of the plate members is adapted to support a tooth so the outer projecting end thereof can be adjustably positioned relative to the front end of the channel member.

United States Patent [191 Wagner, Jr. 1 1 Jan. 7, 1975 [54] FLIGHT ASSEMBLY FOR COMPOSTER 3,335,888 8/1967 Kugler 214 509 ELEVATING DEVICE 3,664,645 5/1972 Cobey 241/101 M X Inventor: Karl F. Wagner, Jr., Stow, Ohio General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich.

Filed: Nov. 9, 1973 Appl. No.: 414,333

Assignee:

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2/1937 Smith 24l/292.1 X Mast 241/292.l X

Primary Examiner-Gerald A. Dost Assistant Examiner-E. F. Desmond Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Edward J. Biskup [57] ABSTRACT A flight assembly for attachment to an elevating de vice carried at the forward end of a composter vehicle. The flight assembly includes an elongated channel member that is U-shaped in cross section and supports a plurality of equally spaced plate members located in parallel planes which are perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the channel member. Each of the plate members is adapted to support a tooth so the outer projecting end thereof can be adjustably positioned relative to the front end of the channel member.

1 Claim, 4 Drawing Figures FLIGHT ASSEMBLY FOR COMPOSTER ELEVATING DEVICE This invention, in general, concerns an elevating device for a composter vehicle and more particularly an improved flight assembly which is attachable to the elevator device and serves to shred solid waste material.

One form of a compositing vehicle presently being manufactured includes a rubber-tired tractor which has the front end thereof provided with an elevating device that is inclined forwardly. The elevating device has a plurality of transversely extending flight members or paddles which are adapted to be chain driven upwardly as the machine moves into a pile of waste material. The action of the paddle is to lift the material and move it to the right of the machine and at the same time turn, mix, and aerate the material. The machine is designed to turn rows of waste material over and inside out, breaking up the material, and mixing it with air and moisture so as to create the right condition for efficient composting.

When a machine of the above-described type is used for processing municipal refuse, it must be capable of shredding a variety of solid materials ranging from paper, plastic bags, wood furniture, and the like. In order to realize effective shredding of material of this type, the paddles have been provided with projecting teeth which serve to cut, tear, and thoroughly mix the various solid materials and blend their contents with the rest of the refuse so as to reduce volume and increase the density thereof. Heretofore, however, the teeth have not been adjustable relative to the paddle so as to permit selective variance in the length of the teeth so a proper shredding action would occur depending upon the contents of the refuse being treated.

Accordingly, the objects of thepresent invention are to provide an improved flight assembly for a composting elevator device that is adapted to support projecting teeth in a manner whereby the teeth can be easily and quickly removed or replaced when damaged; to provide an improved flight assembly for shredding solid waste material that is attachable to the laterally spaced chains of an elevating device and is provided with projecting teeth which are adjustable in length relative to the flight structure; and to provide an improved flight assembly for the elevating device of a composter vehicle that includes a plurality of uniformly spaced plate members which serve to strengthen the flight structure and also serve to carry a plurality of adjustable teeth for shredding solid waste material.

The above objects are realized with a flight assembly made according to the invention which in its preferred form includes an elongated channel member which is generally U-shaped in cross section. The channel member includes a base section which is integrally formed with a pair of outwardly extending and parallel legs of different length. A plurality of equally spaced plate members are secured to the channel member between the legs thereof with each plate member being located in a plane that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the channel member. Each plate member is adapted to removably and adjustably carry a tooth which can be secured to the associated plate through a plurality of bolts.

Other objects and features of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description when taken with the drawing in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a composter vehicle having an elevator device employing flight assemblies made according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view taken on lines 2-2 of FIG. 1 showing one of the flight assemblies according to the invention;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is an exploded view showing the individual parts of the flight assembly.

Referring to the drawing and more particularly FIG. 1, a composter vehicle is shown comprising a rubber tired-tractor 10 the forward end of which is provided with a rigid horizontally extending boom 12. The front end of the boom 12 is formed with a rigid frame including a cross bar 14 that supports the upper end of an elevating device 16 which is inclined forwardly and has the lower rear end supported by a vertical strut 18 depending from the boom 12. A side casting blade 20 is secured to the support frame and is angled relative to the longitudinal axis of the tractor 10 so that a portion of the blade 20 is outboard of the right front wheel of the tractor 10. As is conventional, the elevating device 16 has the upper end thereof provided with a pair of laterally spaced sprockets 22 and 24 which together with another pair of laterally spaced sprockets (not shown) at the lower end of the: elevating device 16 serve to drive a pair of endless chains 26 and 28. The two laterally spaced chains 26 and28 support a plurality of identical paddles or flight assemblies 30 which are adapted to be driven upwardly or in a counterclockwise direction for shredding material as the com poster vehicle is driven into a pile of refuse.

More specifically and as seen in FIGS. 2, 3, and 4, each flight assembly 30 comprises an elongated channel member 32 which in cross section has a base section 34 and a pair of parallel legs of different length with the leg 36 being longer in length than the leg 38 as best seen in FIG. 3. Positioned between the upper and lower legs 36 and 38 are a plurality of identical plate members 40 which are uniformly spaced along the longitudinal axis of the channel member and located in planes perpendicular thereto. One function of the plate members 40 is to rigidify and strengthen the channel member 32. Each plate member 40 is defined by upper and lower parallel edges 42 and 44, parallel side edges 46 and 48, and an inclined edge 50. Edges 42, 44 and 46 are rigidly secured as by a weld to the upper leg 36, lower leg 38 and the base section 34, respectively. In addition, each plate member 40 is formed with four apertures 52 which are uniformly spaced along an axis parallel to the upper leg 36.

A tooth 54 is adapted to be secured to each plate member 40 and is formed with three apertures 55 which will register with a corresponding number of the apertures 52 formed in the plate member. Accordingly, as seen in FIG. 3, the tooth 54 can be fixed to each of the plate members 40 by bolts 56 in either the full line position shown or in the dotted line position. In the full line position, the outer end 58 of each tooth 54 extends a predetermined distance beyond the ends of the legs 36 and 38 and provides a maximum extent of the tooth to be available for shredding waste material. On the other hand, when the tooth 54 is positioned in the dotted line position, a lesser amount of the tooth 54 is exposed for shredding material. As alluded to hereinbefore, this arrangement allows the teeth to be adjusted in length depending on the extent of solid waste material that is to be shredded by the elevating device 16. From the above description, it should be apparent that the flight assembly 30 according to the invention is constructed for maximum rigidity with a minimum of weight while at the same time permitting use of adjustable teeth for tearing and cutting up solid waste material. In addition, it will be noted that each tooth 54 can be readily removed from the plate member 40 so that the number of teeth used with one flight assembly can be varied. For example, a tooth 54 can be connected to each plate member 40 or to alternate plate members 40 as seen in FIG. 2. Thus, depending upon the content of the refuse, the flight assemblies 30 can be modified by increasing or decreasing or staggering the teeth so as to obtain the most effective shredding of the waste material.

Various changes and modifications can be made in this construction without departing from the spirit of the invention. Such changes and modifications are contemplated by the inventor and he does not wish to be limited except by the scope of the appended claims.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. In a composter vehicle including a tractor having an elevating device mounted at the front end thereof, said elevating device having a plurality of equally spaced and parallel flight assemblies for shredding solid waste material, each of said flight assemblies comprising an elongated channel member, said channel member being U-shaped in cross section and having a base section integrally formed with a pair of outwardly extending and parallel legs, one of said legs being of a longer length than the other leg when the channel member is viewed in cross section and being adapted to contact the solid waste material when the elevating device is driven, a plurality of equally spaced plate members, means securing each of said plate members to said channel member between the legs thereof so as to rigidify said channel member along its length, each of said plate members having a portion adjacent said one of said legs located in a plane that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the channel member, a plurality of teeth, each of said teeth having a plurality of equally spaced and axially aligned apertures formed therein, said portion of each of said plate members having a plurality of apertures formed therein adjacent to and within the confines of said one of said legs, the centers of said apertures in said each of said plate members being located along an axis parallel to the plane of said one of said legs and being adapted to register with said apertures in each of said teeth, and a plurality of bolts extending through the apertures in each of said teeth and the registering apertures in the associated plate member for securing the teeth thereto, each of said plate members having a greater number of apertures formed therein than are formed in each of said teeth whereby said each of said teeth can be adjustably positioned relative to said base section and thereby vary the amount that said each of said teeth extends beyond the ends of said legs. 

1. In a composter vehicle including a tractor having an elevating device mounted at the front end thereof, said elevating device having a plurality of equally spaced and parallel flight assemblies for shredding solid waste material, each of said flight assemblies comprising an elongated channel member, said channel member being U-shaped in cross section and having a base section integrally formed with a pair of outwardly extending and parallel legs, one of said legs being of a longer length than the other leg when the channel member is viewed in cross section and being adapted to contact the solid waste material when the elevating device is driven, a plurality of equally spaced plate members, means securing each of said plate members to said channel member between the legs thereof so as to rigidify said channel member along its length, each of said plate members having a portion adjacent said one of said legs located in a plane that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the channel member, a plurality of teeth, each of said teeth having a plurality of equally spaced and axially aligned apertures formed therein, said portion of each of said plate members having a plurality of apertures formed therein adjacent to and within the confines of said one of said legs, the centers of said apertures in said each of said plate members being located along an axis parallel to the plane of said one of said legs and being adapted to register with said apertures in each of said teeth, and a plurality of bolts extending through the apertures in each of said teeth and the registering apertures in the associated plate member for securing the teeth thereto, each of said plate members having a greater number of apertures formed therein than are formed in each of said teeth whereby said each of said teeth can be adjustably positioned relative to said base section and thereby vary the amount that said each of said teeth extends beyond the ends of said legs. 